It is reported that knocking out the NLRP3 gene can effectively inhibit the infiltration of macrophages in the kidneys of DM rats, reduce the protein expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF, improve glomerular lesions in mice, and reduce the protein expression of FN, Collagen I, and Collagen IV(Wu et al., 2018). Here, CCN2 is linked to diabetes mellitus.